Symptoms

For some people their symptoms of MCI do not get in the way of everyday life, but everyone’s experience is different.

 

MCI symptoms may include:

Memory- misplacing items or having trouble remembering recent conversations.

Attention - finding it difficult to concentrate, e.g. while watching a TV programme or carrying out duties at work.

Disorientation - confusion about time, date or place.

Thinking skills - problems with planning or completing tasks, e.g. managing money, or cooking a meal.

Communication - problems finding the right words.

Mood and behaviour - becoming irritable, anxious, or low in mood.

 

These symptoms may affect someone with MCI all of the time, or they might come and go. This will depend on the underlying cause.

When MCI is caused by the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia or another type of dementia symptoms will get worse over time and start to affect a person’s ability to carry out daily activities. This worsening can be very gradual and not noticeable to begin with.

Anyone experiencing any changes to their health, including mild changes to their memory, and thinking, should make an appointment with their doctor as soon as possible. Getting the right diagnosis is important.